Tag Archives: Picture

17th Century: pastoral panel

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English beadwork pastoral panel second half 17th century

Item auction page at Sotheby’s

Framed: 46cm. high, 68cm. wide; 1ft. 6in., 2ft. 2in., Textile visible: 31cm. high, 52cm. wide; 1ft., 1ft. 8in.

Worked in polychrome glass beads, with central standing figure of female holding a flower, flanked by initials E & L, set in a fantastical landscape with small animals and trees and large insects and flowers; mounted within later glazed frame

There are small clear beads worked over the cream textile ground, which is slightly discoloured. There are small marks to the far edges and some dark markings to the insect legs and antennae. Due to the material used the beads are in good condition and with good colour. This is framed with special reflective glass which does prevent a clear view of the panel.

There was a great demand for rich materials and elaborately ornamented pieces and also a fascination in the natural world.  Pattern books emerged which had a great influence on design. An Italian, Federico Vinciolo published a pattern book, which due to popularity had to be constantly reprinted. European printers were all influenced by each other. In England illustrations in herbals were initially the source for inspiration, which later in the 17thcentury were supplied as patterns by the print sellers and merchants marked satin panels with the designs which could be purchased, worked by the embroiderer in the techniques and colours she desired, and then could be brought back to the merchant to be made up into the caskets which could be individualised to the requirements of the client with regard to the contents of the casket.An extremely influential English book and print seller, was John Stent (born c.1615-1617) who had by 1662 accumulated the most extensive and diverse stock of engravings of any of his English competitors or predecessors, publishing at least 218 different plates of natural history subjects which were used by artists, teachers and embroiderers and were available at different prices, as broadsheets or as books including a three part work, A Book of Flowers Beasts, Birds and Fruits, in three parts, 20 leaves in each l’art. See Alexander Globe, Peter Stent London Bookseller Circa 1642-1665. Stent’s inventory included that of earlier engravers and printers, including Thomas Johnson’s work of 1530, and most importantly he was indebted to the four-part natural history work engraved by the German Jacob Hoefnagel, and designs by his father, printed in 1592, Stent also commissioned and used new designs by Wenceslaus Hollar, John Dunstall and John Payne and Johann Sibmacher all producers of pattern books. Many of the biblical embroideries derive from Continental designs and were based on Gerard de Jode’s compilation, Thesaurus Sacrarum Historiarium Veteris Testamenti, of 1585, which comprised of engravings by different artist and was used for wallpaintings, plasterwork, silver and textiles. Many of the English interpretations from the print designs of the distinctive needlework motifs are identiable and repeated in the distinctive style of the textile panels and in this example in beadwork interpretation.

Beck, Thomasina, Gardening with Silk and Gold, A History of Gardens in Embroidery, Published by David and Charles, 1997, Chp.2 &4, Stuart & Georgian Gardens, pp.40-63 & pp.80-99, comprehensive discussion of the inspiration of garden design.
Brooks, Mary M, English Embroideries of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, in the Collection of the Ashmolean Museum, London, 2004, discussion on collectors, makers, sources and stitches, and illustrations of the specific pieces in the collection.
Morrall, Andrew and Watt, Melinda, English Embroidery from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1580-1700, `Twixt Art and Nature’, Yale University Press, for comprehensive discussion and illustration of the subject and techniques of embroidery and needlework used.
Synge, Synge, Art of Embroidery, History of Style and Technique, The Royal School of Needlework,London, 2001, Chapter Five, The Seventeenth Century, pp.110-159

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17th Century: garden beadwork picture 1670

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Stuart beadwork and silk picture circa 1670

Item auction pages at Sotheby’s | auction 1 | auction 2 

depicting a standing male and female figure clothed in contemporary dress withing flowering foliage before a recumbant leopard and lion and a perched parrot and other bird.  Within a later frame

framed 13 1/4 in. by 16 1/2 in.; panel approximately 10 3/4 in. by 13 3/4 in.

33.7 cm; 41.9 cm; 27.3 cm; 34.9 cm

Item auction page at Sotheby’s | auction 1

This is a charming textile panel. The glass bead motifs are in relief, especially the corner animals. The glass beadwork is in very good condition overall. The faces and shoulders of both figures are opaque glass, the hands and arms, are possible replacements, as the surface is different, and there are silk threads visible around the base of the left arm of the lady (hand holding flowers), and there is possibly glue residue to beads above the left hand of the male (the hand peeping out from the cloak – without arm visible). There are some losses, for example to the bow trims to the cloak and shoes of the male figure, as visible in the photograph. Some of the tiny blue beads are present along the lower edge of the box frame (having fallen off). There are some tiny stitches to the silk satin ground, in area lower right of grass supporting female figure, and the area just left of lion’s head in lower right corner. There is some shadowing and minor wear and minor split, in area around the male figure, as visible in the photograph to the left of his arm and head, and right of his head above the cloak. There is velvet ribbon trim around the edges. It is mounted within a glazed boxed, ebonised frame, and the panel is mounted against another textile panel, visible at the right hand and left hand side especially. Being a box frame allows for the relief motifs to be protected. The charm of glass beads is that they keep their colour.
This vibrant and intricate beadwork picture, depicting a late 17th century couple amongst exotic fauna and flowering flora, belongs to a well-established group of pictures made from the 1660s through the early 1680s around the restoration of the monarch of Charles II. Many of these pictures depict Royal figures such as Charles II with his consort Catherine of Braganza, biblical figures such as King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba as well as Adam and Eve, and couples about to be married.  Beadwork, because of its fragile nature, is one of the rarer survivals of the decorative arts to have survived from the latter half of the 17th century. The coloured glass beads naturally retain their original strong hues, most of the surviving articles being in the form of pictures and baskets.  For a beadwork basket depicting Charles II and Catherine of Braganza with allegories of the Four Continents, see, A. Morrall and M. Watt, eds., English Embroidery from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1580-1700: ‘Twixt Art and Nature’, New Haven and London, 2008, pp. 134-5, fig. 13-13a; exhibition at The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture, December 11, 2008-April 12, 2009.  For other beadwork/needlework pictures depicting a similar subject, Morrall and Watts, op. cit. nos. 27, 55 and 56. pp. 163, 216, 217, 219. For a number of related beadwork pictures, see also Xanthe Brooke, The Lady Lever Art Gallery Catalogue of Embroideries, Phoenix Mill, Gloucestershire, 1992, nos. LL5272, LL5276, LL5257, LL5264, LL5341, LL5342, LL5343. 

Item auction page at Sotheby’s | auction 2

Very good condition; the beads retain vibrant colors and there does not appear to be losses to the beads; the female figure with a hairline crack running through her face; the hands to the female figure with painted restoration; the male figure with a very minor and slight hairline crack to his face; the male figure’s hands with losses to three fingers of his proper left hand and with losses to fingers of proper right hand; the silk background appears to have yellowed and darkened but is in good condition; the velvet border to the silk background with some minor losses at the corners. Not examined out of frame.

This wonderfully vibrant and intricate picture worked in raised beadwork depicting a late 17th century couple amongst exotic fauna and flowering flora belongs to a well-established group of pictures made from the 1660s through the early 1680s centering the restoration of the monarch of Charles II.  Many of these pictures depict Royal figures such as Charles II with his consort Catherine of Braganza, biblical figures such as King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba as well as Adam and Eve, and couples about to be married.  The present picture may fall in to the later category commemorating a marriage.  The setting is reminiscent of the Garden of Eden, with overtones of fruitfulness and prosperity.  Beadwork, because of its fragile nature, is one of the rarer survivals of the decorative arts to have survived from the latter half of the 17th century. The colored glass beads naturally retain their original strong hues, most of the surviving articles being in the form of pictures and baskets.  A beadwork basket depicting Charles II and Catherine of Braganza with allegories of the Four Continents, is illustrated, A. Morrall and M. Watt, eds., English Embroidery from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1580-1700: ‘Twixt Art and Nature’, New Haven and London, 2008, pp. 134-5, fig. 13-13a; exhibition held at The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture, December 11, 2008-April 12, 2009.  A number of other similar beadwork/needlework pictures depicting a similar subject are also illustrated (Morrall and Watts, op. cit. nos. 27, 55 and 56. pp. 163, 216, 217, 219). For a number of related beadwork pictures, see also Xanthe Brooke, The Lady Lever Art Gallery Catalogue of Embroideries, Phoenix Mill, Gloucestershire, 1992, nos. LL5272, LL5276, LL5257, LL5264, LL5341, LL5342, LL5343.  A beadwork basket depicting Adam and Eve sold in these rooms, April 9, 2009, lot 34 ($40,625).

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17th Century: beaded stumpwork panel

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Beaded stumpwork panel, third quarter 17th Century

Item auction page at Sotheby’s

Height with frame 14 1/2 in. by 16 1/4 in.; 36.8 by 41.3 cm.

the whole composition is comprised of a variety of raised stumpwork elements rendered in multicoloured beads on a silk ground, depicting a gentleman and lady with flowers and insects, and a country house
In good condition with very minor tears and wear to silk background and scattered split threads and losses to beads. Frame with rubbing to gilt and ebonized surface.

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17th Century: beadwork picture

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Charles II era, mid 17th Century

Link to item auction page at Sothrey’s

Height with frame 17 1/2 in. by Width 22 in.; 27.9 by 38.1 cm.

of multicolored beads within a wire grid framework; depicting a lady and gentleman below a crown flanked by a lion and unicorn; in a parcel gilt and ebonized moulded frame

In good condition overall, with a few split threads and scattered losses of beads. The white bead square backgrounds detached from the grid frame in a few places. Not examined out of frame, which has rubbing and scattered minor nicks to the ebonized and gilt surfaces.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above.
Related panels with a similar distinctive grid pattern appear as the base in several surviving 17th-century beadwork baskets, including examples in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; the Treasurer’s House, York (National Trust); and the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto.  Beadwork baskets are traditionally thought to have been a domestic art fashioned by gentlewomen from wealthy households, using expensive glass beads imported from Amsterdam and Venice. It has also been suggested that individual components were professionally manufactured and sold as kits.

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17th Century: beadwork floral picture 1653

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An English Beadwork  picture dated 1653

Item auction page at Sotheby’s

Height with frame 19 in. by Width 23 in.; 48.3 by 58.4 cm.

multicolored beads, depicting a lady and gentleman flanking a bouquet of flowers; the back panel with an ink inscription
In reasonably good condition overall, with scattered splits to threads and losses to beads consistent with age, primarily in the central top and upper left borders and the woman’s right hand. Underlying canvas backing with slight undulations in places. Wear to gilt and ebonized frame consistent with age.

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17th Century: beadwork on silk picture

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Charles II beadwork and silk picture, 17th century

Link to item auction page at Sotheby’s 

With frame 14 1/2 in. by 18 1/2 in.

Depicting Venus, Adonis, and Cupid, worked in colored glass beads and stumpwork on a satin ground, within a later giltwood frame
Some minor tears and losses to satin foundation with the most extensive being to the uppermost edge. Silk needlework to stumpwork oxidized to expose fabric beneath. Beadwork generally intact with some minor, occasional losses, mostly to house at upper right. Giltwood frame with rubbing to gilding and minor chips and losses. Some old wood worm damage to reverse of frame. Please note that this needlework has not been examined out of frame.

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17th Century: beadwork picture 1657

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Charles II Beadwork Picture, dated 1657

Link to item auction page at Sotheby’s

Depicting a tree flanked by a deer and dog with male and female figure at either side, with initials and date 1657. In later walnut frame.

Height 8 in. by Width 13 3/4 in.

 

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